RugbyBits

Selection debates, Fletcher Newell and sexy intro music with Tony O’Sullivan

Shaun and Thala are joined by Distracted Sports' Tony O'Sullivan to debate selections and to get a Kiwi take on Saturday's Rugby World Cup Final between South Africa and New Zealand.
Tony shares the stress he has thinking about Ox Nche, why Dane Coles and Willie le Roux have similar roles in the team, the luxury of rotating between Sam Whitelock and Brodie Retallick and why Fletcher Newell might be the star of the final. Listen also for Tony's unexpected review of the RugbyBits intro music too!

The Hundred (plus) Years’ War with Jamie Wall (RugbyBitsnPieces)

Shaun and Thala are joined by Jamie Wall of Radio New Zealand to preview the All Blacks for the Rugby World Cup final. 
Jamie discusses why some of the changes in selection for the All Blacks in 2022 happened more through chance than by design. The influence of Joe Schmidt and Jason (not James, Thala) Ryan as coaches. Why Rieko Ioane gets a bad wrap for his defence at 13. The influence of rugby league in how the All Blacks attack and what the All Blacks will try to do against the Springboks.
Jamie also tells us about his book "The Hundred Years' War" on the All Blacks and Springboks rivalry, which you can get at jamiewallrugby.com

Was Bongi Omkant and Other Semi Final Stories

Thala leads the team along with Kooks and Shaun as they unpack just how the Springboks wangled their way into the RWC2023 Final.
 
We look at how brilliant England were but were just not able to hold on. Clutch Handre and other great substitutes that lifted the Springbok game.
 
A look at the All Blacks and their big in over Argentina plus we already are looking ahead to the Final and pick some key players and head to heads to watch

England v South Africa Preview with Charlie Morgan

Shaun and and Kooks welcome back Charlie Morgan to the RugbyBits Podcast as we take a look through the Match Day 23's announced.
 
We deep dive the plan needed for sides to win and a look at key players and what to expect from England

Springboks win in Paris and the All Blacks stun Ireland

We take a look at the scintillating rugby on display this weekend as RWC2023 puts on a show in the best Quarter Final display in the tournaments history.
 
We go over each game and touch on the Fiji comeback, Argentina cook as Nico Sanchez seals the game. the All Blacks fending off Ireland after what felt like a lifetime and the Springboks beating France as Cheslin Kobe, Eben etzebeth, Bongi Mbonambi, Damian de Allende and Jesse Kriel shine

RWC QF Preview - Reinach and Dupont start, POM v Cane, Marcus Smith at 15? (RugbyBits n Pieces)

Jared, Shaun and Thala preview the weekend's Rugby World Cup quarterfinals now that all the teams have been announced.
We start with Wales v Argentina by asking who is the bigger loss between Taulupe Faletau and Pablo Matera. Jared ponders how Argentina's high possession game plan will go against Wales being happy to defend. We pick out players to watch including Jac Morgan, Juan Martin Gonzalez and Tommy Reffell.
We then look at Ireland v New Zealand and discuss how much can be taken from the last 3 All Blacks games and what weaknesses Ireland can exploit. Jared thinks the All Blacks have one more big game in them. Thala is looking forward to the battle of chirps between the War God and Sam Cane.
We then preview England v Fiji and lament Fiji missing Teti Tela at flyhalf and try to figure out why Marcus Smith is playing at fullback. Jared talks about how England can stumble through the kncokout games into a final. Shaun hypes up Joe Marchant. We all ponder if Levani Botia can win this game by himself.
Finally, Shaun and Thala break down the France v South Africa game now that the teams are out. We try to work out what the Boks approach will be with Reinach and Libbok starting. We look forward to more rolling mauls with Duane Vermeulen starting. We talk about the importance of a good start and scoreboard pressure, as both teams don't want to be chasing this game.
Listen to this pod as we look forward to a massive quarterfinal weekend!

The Springboks as Fruit with Harry Jones (RugbyBits n Pieces)

Shaun and Thala are joined by the Roar Rugby Podcast's Harry Jones to look at the Springboks before their Rugby World Cup quarterfinal clash with France in our RugbyBits n Pieces episode.
We first discuss some of the selection dilemmas that the Springbok coaches might still be pondering - does Libbok or Pollard start, what is the composition of the bench, Vermeulen or Wiese, is there a role for Lukhanyo Am in this group and might Cobus Reinach start.
We then go into depth where the Boks could target the French. Harry ponders which Boks remind him of fruit, why the French may be aroused but not hard and his confidence why the Bok have enough for France on Sunday.

The Masked Scrumhalf and the Over-Excited Golden Retriever - France preview with Thomas Corbet (RugbyBits n Pieces)

Kooks, Shaun and Thala were joined by Actu Rugby journalist - and two timed failed guest of our podcast :( - Thomas Corbet to preview the Springbok opponents in the Rugby World Cup quarterfinal, France.
Thomas revealed why there is less concern in France about Antoine Dupont's injury and whether he will start in the quarterfinal. We discussed what could be learned from the 2022 France v South Africa match, what weaknesses each team can expose in their player opponents, why Damian Penaud is an 'over-excited golden retriever', possible changes to the French 23, how the French have become consistent and predictable and the Boks have become the unpredictable team and the individual match ups each of us were looking for.
Join for an in-depth preview on the French team that will face the Springboks in the Rugby World Cup quarterfinal.

King Mike, Siya’s Testicles and who is the Rugby, who is the Bits

Kooks, Shaun and Thala wrap up an exciting final round of group stage games of the Rugby World Cup.
There was no other place to start but Portugal’s victory over Fiji. We talk about the impressive Nicolas Martins, how Mike Tadjer’s kick stole the show and whether Fiji can bounce back from this loss for their quarterfinals.
We then review the other Week 5 match ups. We welcome Pool D to the World Cup party after Argentina defeat Japan in an entertaining game and Samoa run England close. Shaun explains why the disallowed Samoa try wasn’t controversial and Kooks reminds us all that he picked England coming out of the group stages unbeaten.
We then look at how Ireland destroyed Scotland and how many of the Scotland team should be put on Fraud Watch, how France, New Zealand and Wales dealt with Italy, Uruguay and Georgia respectively. Shaun complains about how we only saw one game of George Moala in Tonga’s victory over Romania.
We then look back at the group stages and pick out moments and games that stood out and teams and players that disappointed. There’s a lot of love for forwards that kick, the impressive performances of Tier 2 nations. Thala tells the story of watching the great Namibian prop Casper Viviers live. We then save up some slander, mostly for Scotland and Australia.

Handre & Manie shine, heartbreak for Makazole and All Blacks cook

Shaun and Jared take the first half of the RugbyBits Pod as they review the Springbok win over Tonga. Jared discusses Deon Fourie and the rest of the team while Shaun gives an unpopular opinion on Luke Pearce.
We talk injuries and what's to come in the Quarter Final's.
 
Thala joins Shaun in the second half as we look at all of the results from the last week of RWC2023. We discuss the All Blacks and how they destroyed Italy as well as Fiji Georgia.
 
A look into the final week with some predictions.